Joshua 23.
JOSHUA was now not far from the age of Moses at the time of his death (Deuteronomy 84:7; Joshua 24: 29), and was himself soon to die.
Although he would soon be gone from their sight, the Lord their God was still, as always, the resource of the people if they would but seek Him. Joshua commends them to the Word of God (verse 6) to keep all that is in it, turning not aside to the right hand or the left. The ungodly among them were a source of weakness (verse 7), but they were to cleave to the Lord: He would fight for them while they remained faithful to Him. They must be separate from the ungodly (verse 12), or the chastening hand of God would be on them.
Here then was the testimony of their aged leader: “Ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you: all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.” Yet Joshua solemnly predicts (verses 15 and 16) the departure of the people from God, and of their removal from the land for which He brought them out of Egypt to possess.
God cannot, and will not, go on with His people in independence of Himself; holiness must be maintained. And yet how great is His patience; His love how amazing!
ML 09/20/1925